DVD The Movies Begin - A Treasury of Early Cinema, 1894-1913:
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Editor: Kino International
Category: Classics (Silents/Avant Garde)
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DVD The Movies Begin - A Treasury of Early Cinema, 1894-1913
The home-video revolution has yielded a wealth of valuable compilations, but few are as miraculously definitive as The Movies Begin. Equally suited to home or classroom viewing, this authoritative five-volume set is a vital document of film history, providing a one-stop destination for anyone wishing to witness the first two decades of motion pictures. That period--from 1894 to 1913--saw movies develop at a breakneck pace, from the earliest "actualities" of the Lumière brothers in France to D.W. Griffith's audacious development of dramatic action in the Biograph shorts of the early 1910s. Sensibly organized into pivotal stages of technical and creative progress, each of these volumes represents the priceless value of film preservation; all 133 films in the set are presented in the finest condition available, from archival prints to complete restorations, and accompanied by music that perfectly captures the spirit of each film and the time of their creation.
Under the expert guidance of film historian David Shepard, this collection is uniquely comprehensive, with fact, fiction, and fantasy represented in equal measure. All major figures are included; it's fitting that one volume is devoted to astonishing shorts by movie magician Georges Méliès, while other volumes serve as "greatest hits" compilations of movie innovations by Edwin S. Porter, Cecil Hepworth, Max Linder, Alice Guy Blanche, and many others. The breathtaking growth of movies is fully apparent by volume 5 ("Comedy, Spectacle, and New Horizons"); most viewers will find this the most entertaining, but each volume is a revelation, offering films that haven't been widely seen since they were first produced. To understand and appreciate the foundation upon which modern filmmaking is built, The Movies Begin is truly essential. --Jeff Shannon
Review(s): DVD The Movies Begin - A Treasury of Early Cinema, 1894-1913
Essential, but by no means perfect
There's no doubt that this is an essential purchase for anyone interested in early cinema: MOVIES BEGIN includes many of the landmarks, as well as some fascinating rarieties. There are tons of fun: classics by Cecil Hepworth, Edison, the Lumieres, and many others. There's no other such extenstive DVD compillation on the market and KINO ON VIDEO should be immensly praised.
However, if you consider it not for its educational values, but as a DVD edition per se, there are major flaws. First of all, commentary track (no matter how insightful) isn't optional, which is below any standards. Secondly, all the foriegn films have electronically imposed English subtitles which are impossible to reduce - it makes a bad old video tape" impression. Film notes included on the disc itself are very interesting, but the edition as a whole simply yields for a booklet which could accompany you while watching. Furthermore, there's no precise information on the sleeve notes about the exact duration of each separate movie, only enigmatic total running time", which makes it less comfortable to use e. g. during classes.
It may seem that I sneer at something very beautiful and indeed it is so - but every beautiful thing may be improved upon. In fact, the amazing recent edition of the Edison films also by KINO proves that they are learning.
Whatever are my complaints, this one remains a compulsory viewing.
Michal Oleszczyk, Tarnowskie Gory, Poland
Best Silent Film Library Around
Covers history of silent films with textual menu and includes 133 complete motion pictures. The best historical treasury of silents films I have ever seen.
The Movies Begin
... I'd reccomend this for anyone(except the first part)So here's my review and description of each Volume. Volume one produced by D. Shepard, starts with Animated Muybridge photos. I was hoping that it'd be of galloping horses, but it's not and that's why I skip it. Then there's Edison's Kinetoscope films, AT THE WRONG SPEED! These were possibly "overcranked" so at 24 fps, it appears very slow. Same with the Lumiere films, only this time these were cranked at a higher speed so instead of being super-slow, they're plain jerky.(But some aren't that bad, and these are more rare, least Known ones.) Now there's "A trip to the Moon", Melies most famous film.(Note the cover, that picture used to give me the creeps!) Followed by a Pathe film on Moscow, and "Aeroplane, flight and wreck." We are given some Mutoscope films after this(I was hoping the rare, 1894 animated pictures!" After that the main film of this Volume is given "The Great Train Robbery" Which uses Modern Editing and this print is said to be Mint Condition and is a Rare part colourised version. After "The Dam Family and The Dam Dog" "The Golden Beetle" is next. Volume 2 produced by Heather Stewart, has a nice commentary by Barry Salt, nice Piano accompiant, and starts with Lumiere actualities. The well known ones like "Men playing cards" and at the right speed! Some Robert Paul films are after Acres' "Rough Sea". Paul had action being carried out of the frame, and stop motion and Model effects("The (?) Motorist") G.A. Smith Originated breaking a scene down in shots("Mary Jane's Mishap") and Point-of-view shots("As seen through a telescope") Shffield Photo and W. Haggar contain early chase films. J. Bamforth is variations on previous films, An J. Williamson is Chase and action being carried over from scene to scene. The Same People as Vol.2 Made this volume(my favorite!). Cecil Hepworth begins, who "tried to inject a little novelty in his films" has nice ones like "How it feels to be run over". G.H. Cricks brings "A Visit to Peek Freans" and Kineto has "A day in the Life of a Coal Miner. The Pathe films are the main part and are the best. They vary from Melies and Smith inspired films, to rare stencil coloured ones. We end with Edison Films, which are also good. Volume 4 is Melies films. Some like "The Impossible Voyage" and "The Eclipse" are not to missed. In fact, this volume is one of the best ones. Produced by Davied Shepard has nice music, and nice ending documentary. Volume 5 is the last one. With some Pathe films, A forerunner of the Keystone C(K)ops, A D.W. Griffith film and more show main begginings of "proper" cinema. Title cards, edtiting, andwell made plots is what I mean. Note: The Winsor Mckay Film is not complete. "Winsor Mckay:Animation Legend" contains more of Mckay drawing and talking with his friends, and even more to the cartoon(which is hand coloured version, not on here) Both are editied differently. I hope my review told you enough of this set. I didn't want to give spoilers. This is not to be missed(sorry for copying antoher review's title that was here in May 10 2003 that may later be gone)
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